CRISTIANO Ronaldo has indicated his willingness to face down the Premiership boo-boys after being told in no uncertain terms Manchester United will not allow him to complete his dream move to Spain.

After being singled out as public enemy number one in England following his involvement in Wayne Rooney's World Cup quarter-final dismissal, the Portugal winger stated he could see no future for himself in Manchester.

Not content with that and outlining a firm desire to join Real Madrid or Barcelona, Ronaldo also took a swipe at Sir Alex Ferguson for failing to publicly back him over the Rooney incident.

Yet, if that move was designed to herald his departure from Old Trafford, Ronaldo has got his tactics badly wrong.

Instead of effecting the kind of irretrievable breakdown in his relationship with Ferguson which seems set to see Ruud van Nistelrooy leave, Ronaldo has only fuelled the Scot's determination to make him honour the contract extension he signed only last season which will keep the 21-year-old at Old Trafford until 2010.

And, faced with the unequivocal knowledge that Manchester United 'are not in the business of selling their best young players', Ronaldo, for the first time in a month, has raised the possibility he could still be a Red Devil when the new campaign gets underway against Fulham on August 20.

"Everything is open," he said.

Reason

"If it is a question of staying it will be fine, if I leave it will also be fine.

"I have no reason to leave the club. They have always supported me, they always gave me guarantees of being able to evolve as a player.

"There are possibilities for me to continue at Manchester United but there are other possibilities as well. There is still nothing concrete."

Although Ronaldo is currently relaxing in his Madeira homeland, he indicated the issue of his future would be resolved 'over the next few days'.

That is likely to involve discussions between his agent Jorge Mendes and United chief executive David Gill, with Ferguson no doubt being briefed when he arrives in South Africa tomorrow morning, 24 hours before the remainder of his squad land in Durban for the start of their three-match tour.

However, judging by the forceful nature of the statement released from Old Trafford, communication between Mendes and Gill could be brief.

"There is no possibility of Cristiano being sold," said United.

"Cristiano recently signed a new contract until 2010 and the club fully expects him to honour it.

"The club will not listen to any offers for Cristiano. He is one of the brightest young stars in world football as demonstrated by his performances at the World Cup and Manchester United is not in the business of selling its best young players."

How difficult will it be for Ronaldo to return to United? Have your say.